The way we conduct ourselves in the United States, seems to keep us from solving problems. As issues arise and we start to pursue solutions, only the most vocal extremists are heard. The people on the extremes, whether from the extreme 'right' or from the extreme 'left' usually shout the loudest, but their screams are mostly invectives that elicit negative responses from the other extreme.

Hate speech appears to be the common denominator from the margins. Name calling rather than helping our common circumstances makes things worse. It is difficult to have constructive conversations about difficult issues in our present social environment. Many common sense solutions are available for those everyday problems we face as a society.

We can't seem to talk to each other.

Our economic dedication to capitalism has resulted in many jobs being exported by our corporate friendly 'trade agreements'. The job situation has led to many who are now homeless.

At one time many cities had 'comfort stations' in their downtown areas. They were closed down, mostly because more and more the homeless were the primary users. We didn't want the homeless hanging around in these prime downtown areas. We lie to ourselves claiming that we closed them to save cleaning costs. In truth, we wanted to move these unwanted people away from our shopping areas.

The way we treat homeless people is inexcusable. In many cities, we have removed all downtown public toilets. This doesn't make sense. People must relieve themselves whether they have a home or not. When the public toilets are removed as an option, then the staircases of parking garages serves as a viable option, and the smells make using the stairs unpleasant.

When public facilities such as libraries take measures to keep homeless out... When train stations and bus stations make their restroom inaccessible... When we don't face the reality, that these people, the homeless need to have toilet privileges, then alley-ways and the spaces behind dumpsters are used. Our cities become dirty and smelly.

When work crews pulled open a broken BART escalator at San Francisco's Civic Center Station last month, they found so much human excrement in its works they had to call a hazardous-materials team.While the sheer volume of human waste was surprising, its presence was not. Once the stations close, the bottom of BART station stairwells in downtown San Francisco are often a prime location for homeless people to camp for the night or find a private place to relieve themselves.

All those biological excretions can gum up the wheels and gears of BART's escalators, shutting them down for long periods of extended repairs, increasing station cleaning costs and creating an unpleasant aroma for morning commuters. (source)

How long can you 'hold it'? - And, where is the closest 'appropriate place'?

Now, we've taken the next step to make it difficult for the homeless. We've designed a substance to apply to a wall so that if a person urinates on the wall, the urine splashes back on the person. Now, not only can you not use a public restroom which we closed down, you also can't pee on that wall.

Public urination has long been a problem in San Francisco. Legislation banning it in 2002 has seen little success, despite a fine of up to $500.

San Francisco now has nine public walls covered with a repellant paint that makes pee spray back on the person's shoes and pants. The San Francisco Chronicle reports Friday that it's the city's latest attempt to clean up urine-soaked alleyways and walls. (source)

Other cities are not better. The article "Why Don't American Subway Stations Have Public Bathrooms?", looks at New York, Boston and Chicago.

Visit the website of the American Restroom Association for more information about sensible solutions."America's advocate for the availability of clean, safe, well designed public restrooms